July Favorites

Hi guys!

I can't believe it's already time to do favorites again. This summer has been so busy that it is flying by! Thankfully, I've gotten to try some new products this month that I'm loving.

Sachajuan Ocean Mist

I already mentioned last month that I'm loving beach sprays. I got this one in my PopSugar Summer Box, and it smells SO good. Other than that, I think it does really nice things to my hair - soft, tousley, perfect-for-summer hair!

Elf Brush Cleaner

I bought this accidentally thinking it was the Makeup Mist and Set, but I actually really enjoy it. I'm terrible about cleaning my brushes, and this gives me a fast, easy way to keep them (relatively) bacteria free. Plus it smells good and so do my brushes after I use it!

Beauty Blender

I got my first Beauty Blender, and I'm totally in love with it. The only thing is that within three weeks it started to mold! I think it's just the way I was storing it to dry, but I've got to be extra careful with my next one.

Covergirl Clump Crusher Mascara

I felt like I needed to switch up my mascara, and I'm definitely glad I choose this one. The formula is perfect for me - not too wet, not too dry - and I'm finding that I really like the synthetic wands.

Citrus Sambra Limited Edition SoftSoap

After being very disappointed by the Summer Edition SoftSoaps last year, I'm really glad I like this one. I love anything citrus, and this reminds me a lot of the The Body Shop Satsuma shower gel I was using, just more moisturizing and lather-y, which I like.


So that's it! Everything I've been loving this month. I have to confess, I may not be able to blog very much soon. I have to tighten my budget quite a lot to save up for some important things, and that won't leave very much for new beauty products. It may just mean more reviews and a closer look at my products instead of new things, but we'll have to see!

Nail of the Week 12/8 & 12/15

Ah! I'm so behind!

Here are my NOTW from this week and last week.

Last week I was loving elf's Mod Mauve. I loved this color so much. I feel like it's neutral but still bright and spunky.

This week I'm wearing China Glaze's Below Deck which I thought was just a taupe, but it turns out it's a "flirty mix of taupe and violet," and I think it's gorgeous. I love neutrals that aren't just grey or beige but have a little something extra. It's nice to know that should I ever have to keep my nails neutral, I have lots of fabulous choices!

That's it for this NOTW! I'll try and get my act together with posting soon!

Five Products I've Emptied

It's time for another in my "Products I've Used Up" series. No makeup products this time, but some stuff I use daily and love a lot.


1. Secret Outlast Deodorant in Completely Clean

I love this deodorant. It smells lovely, and although it does not protect against odor for 48 hours, it works well. 

2. Elf Mist and Set Spray

This was the second bottle of this that I've gone through, and I still love it. I think it helps keep my makeup on my face way better than any of the high end brands I've tried. For only $3, you can't beat that!

3. Onyx Professional 100% Pure Acetone

I've had this giant bottle for a while now, but once I started wearing polish on a regular basis, I went through it pretty quickly. I prefer pure acetone for removing polish (plus when I get gel manicures it's the only way to get it off!) and this is really cheap for how much product you get.

4. Origins Super Spot Remover Acne Gel

I bought this as a birthday gift for myself from Sephora, and I really liked it. I was concerned about the size of it, but all the reviews said it lasted a long time. While I wouldn't consider less than three months a long time, I did enjoy using this. Eventually, it fell victim to every acne product I use and became less effective at clearing my skin. I liked it, but I wouldn't repurchase it anytime soon.

5. L'Oreal Everstyle Curl Activating Mousse

This is my go-to curl mousse because it's the only drugstore brand I know of that is alcohol free. I've been using it for a while, and I really like it. I think it smells nice, and it definitely helps my hair curl and not frizz. The only downside is that sometimes it's a little hard for me to find. I don't know if that's because it's so popular that it's always sold out or that stores just don't order very much of it.

What products have you guys used up lately? Anything I should try? Let me know!

September Favorites

It's favorites time again! Let's look at everything I've been loving this month!

1. Michael Todd Jojoba Scrub

I got this in my Ipsy this month, and I absolutely loved it. It wasn't too abrasive, but I felt like it got my skin really clean and left it feeling really smooth. The sample size lasted me for a good time, too. And it's not even that expensive. I may have looked into purchasing a full size if not for the next product..

2. St. Ives Blemish Control Apricot Scrub

I've only had this product since Wednesday, but in those four washes, my skin has improved dramatically. I've been dealing with a lot of stress and negativity this month (more on that in my next personal update) and my skin has been showing it. I bought the Loreal Anti Breakout Go 360 Clean, but it didn't seem to have a huge effect. Then I saw Ingrid talk about this product on Youtube, and I am so glad I picked it up. My face is finally calming down, and it's definitely due to this product.

3. Elf Jumbo Eyeshadow Stick in French Lace

I added this into my recent Elf purchase to use as an eyeshadow base, and I'm so glad I did! It's making me fall in love with my eyeshadows all over again. Some of them just perform so much better over a base! This pencil does has shimmer, which I wish it didn't, but most of the eyeshadow I use on a regular basis does too, so it's not a huge deal. I'm going to try and seek out the new Color Tattoo in Nude Pink to see how that performs, but for $2, this one definitely ain't bad!

4. Lorac Mint Palette

Using the Elf stick has really made me love my Lorac Mint Palette this month. Before, the eyeshadows didn't seem that pigmented, but the base really makes them stand out. And, because the palette has a blush, I've been reaching for it most often this month. I usually go for the bottom left pink on my eyelid, the matte light brown in the top for my crease, the shimmery dark brown on the bottom in my outer corner, and the cream as a highlight. It's a great natural look. I haven't been brave enough to try the mint or the dark purple yet.

6. Space Heater

Yes, I'm giving my space heater a shout out. I don't know where I'd be without it. It may be dinky, but it's kept me from freezing at night, and for this Florida girl, that is something to be grateful for.

7. Nyx Slide on Liner in Brown Perfection

After trying this this month, I'm kind of mad at myself for waiting so long. I love this eyeliner. It's creamy, it's thin and easy to control, and it lasts! It's on par with my Tarte ones that I have loved forever, but SO much cheaper. I'm definitely picking up a plethora of other colors when I next end up at Ulta.

So that's everything! I have some very exciting new things coming in the mail, so be sure to stay tuned for some new make up goodies!

Ulta and Drugstore Haul

I've gotten a lot of new products lately! It seems like my purchasing happens in spurts. I can go for a while without anything new, and then all of a sudden, I have a ton of stuff to try out! Some of this is from my Ulta excursion, some of it I got in a swap, and some of it I order from Elf!

1. Butter London - British Racing Green

Totally excited about this color. It's gonna be awesome for winter/the holiday season.

2. Nyx Slide On Liners in Brown Perfection and Jewel

I've been meaning to try these for a while, and I am not disappointed! The brown is more pigmented than jewel, but they're both gorgeous, last forever, and are super creamy. I definitely need to get all the colors!

3. Ulta quad in Illusion

Naked, Seashell, Mystique, Twilight (Top L, Top R, Bottom L, Bottom R)

I'm loving this natural quad from Ulta. I use Naked as a highlight, Seashell on my lid, Mystique in my crease, and Twilight in the outer V. 

4. Mica eyeshadow in Bronze

I haven't gotten to try this yet, but I'm quickly becoming obsessed with bronzes, so I'm very excited to give it a try!

5. Almay lip balm in Blooming

This is a beautiful "my lips but better" color, and it's not too sticky, which I'm pretty sensitive about.

6. Elf Matte Lip Color in Coral

Haven't had a chance to try this yet, but I love everything coral, so I'm not worried.

7. Elf brushes - Crease and Blending

         

New brushes! I'm really enjoying adding these into my make up routine. It's nice not using the same brush for everything!

8. Elf eyeshadow stick in French Lace

I got this to use as an eyeshadow base, and it's quickly becoming a must-have for getting ready!

9. Wet 'n Wild Megaprotein Mascara

Despite it's name, this mascara gives me a super natural look, so I'm really liking it. It has a little bit of a tendency to smudge, though, which I'm not a fan of. Plus, I love the packaging. This has inspired me to try more Wet 'n Wild mascara!

Tell me what new things you've been trying lately! Very soon, I will have a ton of nail polish to share with you! For now, though, I hope you have a fabulous weekend! 

Five Products I've Emptied

It's time for another products I've emptied post! Let's see what I've used up recently:

1. Revlon Nearly Naked Powder in Fair

I had never tried a non-translucent powder until this one, and I love it. When used with the foundation, it gives me the perfect combination of warmth and that little bit of extra coverage I need. I hit pan on this pretty quickly, but it also lasted for a really long time afterwards. I was very impressed!

2. Revlon Nearly Naked Foundation in Ivory

I really love this foundation. I don't like full coverage foundations, and this is the perfect mix of light coverage while still making my skin look flawless. I'm always impressed when I look at myself after I've put this on. Oh, and I've already repurchased (and use daily) both this and the powder.

3. Elf Makeup Mist & Set

I've raved about this before, and I will rave again. It's literally $3 and it works better for me than the Urban Decay All-Nighter. I never want to put on makeup without it. I'm already halfway through my second bottle.

4. Victoria's Secret Pink Body Mist in Fresh & Clean

After rediscovering my love for this body mist this summer, I finally made it through my original travel-sized bottle of it. I love it. It's not overwhelming, and it's not super girly, so it's perfect for me. I'm already more than halfway through a second travel bottle, and I have a regular bottle of it waiting for me. Clearly, I'm obsessed.

5. TRESemme Fresh Start Dry Shampoo

Another thing I've had forever and just recently got around to finishing. This wasn't a bad product, but it wasn't amazing either. Compared to the one I'm using now (the Suave version), it doesn't smell as good, BUT it does make my hair feel cleaner when it's oily. I think this is a better dry shampoo for cleaning, but the Suave is a better one for volume and texture.

So that's everything for this round! Anything you've finished recently?

Five Disappointing Products

I've talked a lot about products I've loved, but not so much about products that I disliked. I have two kinds of products I dislike. The first are products that I don't love, but I also don't consider harmful or so awful that I won't finish them. The second are products that I won't finish. These are in the latter category. I recognize that these products may work well for others, but I was disappointed in them.

1. Almay Clear Complexion Foundation with BlemisHeal technology

This product kind of ends up between the two categories. I did repurchase this once, but I never made it through the second bottle. First of all, this foundation claims to help heal breakouts, and I saw no significant difference in my skin. It didn't hurt, but it didn't help either. The reason I stopped using it was because it stopped blending into my skin. I'd put it on, think it looked fine, and then look in a mirror later in the day and realize I had lines of foundation all over my face. Finally I switched Revlon Nearly Naked, and I haven't looked back. 

2. NYC IndividualEyes eyeshadow palette in Dark Shadows

I received this palette through Influenster for winning a brand challenge, and I was excited about it. I soon realized, however, that I could not make it look like I didn't have a black eye when I tried to use it. I thought it was because I didn't know how to apply eyeshadow correctly, but I was wrong. The shadows just suck. They're either really unpigmented or too pigmented and don't blend. I was not impressed at all.

3. In-Kind Facial Moisturizer

I bought this at some point last summer because I ran out of the Garnier one I was using at the time. In-Kind boasts that it's made without a bunch of bad stuff like parabens and sulfates, and I remember the bottle saying something like it was 90% natural ingredients, so I figured why not. My biggest issue with this moisturizer? It broke me out. I didn't realize that until I tried to use it again after putting it away for a little while. For something so natural, it really upset my skin.

4. Elf Waterproof Eyeliner Crayon

I love so many of Elf's products, but this is not one of them. I found the consistency to be really awful, and I had to press down really hard to make the color show up at all. Add that to the fact that the color payoff wasn't great even after I pushed down hard, and I'm just glad it wasn't more expensive.

5. Elf Eyebrow Lift and Fill

I currently use Elf's eyebrow kit, and I really love it. I gave it a try despite being really unhappy with this one. Even though this was the lightest color they had, it was too dark for my eyebrows, and it didn't lend itself to filling in my eyebrows very easily. The highlight end of the pencil didn't blend very well.

Five Products I Love

Since I've been so busy lately, I'd like to give a little shout out to five products that have just been working for me. Things that make my life easier (in the beauty realm anyway) and one that has really saved me. Here we go:

1. Suave Daily Clarifying Shampoo

This stuff has seriously been a lifesaver recently. If you read my Suave Moroccan Infusion review then you'll know that I haven't been using it as much lately because I was no longer feeling that products were building up in my hair. However, Toad runs on well water, and my hair is (in the words of my roommate) not about that life. It's been very tangly and rough feeling lately, despite my use of a nourishing masque, and eventually I researched and found out it's because the minerals from the water are building up. So, I used this, and it's tons better. My hair still doesn't love the water, but as long as I use this a couple of times a week, I think I can manage.

2. Elf Eyelid Primer

Before I started using an eyelid primer, powder eyeshadow was a no-go for me. But a primer really makes all the difference! My eyelids aren't super oily, but my eyes are fairly hooded, and powder would just disappear into the crease immediately. This stuff keeps my eyeshadow looking great throughout the day, and it's only $1! Who can beat that?

3. Elf Makeup Mist & Set

Before I found this product, I'd basically resigned myself to the fact that my makeup would be gone as soon as I started sweating. I've tried the Urban Decay All Nighter Spray, and it didn't really do anything for me. I assumed that if Urban Decay couldn't help me, no one could. But I was incredibly surprised when this helped and a lot! I could go outside, sweat a ton, be sure my makeup was gone, and look in the mirror to a face almost as fresh as when I applied it. It's a fantastic product, and I wouldn't apply makeup without it.

4. Elf Beauty Book in Warm

Yes, another Elf product. I can't help it that their makeup is awesome and super cheap! I picked this gem up when I visited their flagship store in NYC at the end of May, and I've been using it every day since. The pigmentation is great, and there's a ton of neutral shades, but also some darker shades, and even a few fun colors! I generally go more natural for my eyeshadow, but today I had an orangey/pink thing going on, and I loved it. And, it's 48 shades for $6. Literally can't be beat.

5. Zoya Nail Polish in Neely

Not my swatch! Click the picture for the source!

 I have two major reasons why this is on this list. The first one is because I'm obsessed with mint green lately. I love it; I own three nail polishes in the color and a pair of pants. The second is because I got a manicure and pedicure with my mom the day before I left for Maine. That was Saturday, June 1st. The first time I noticed any sort of chip in my nails was Sunday, June 9th (this is not including one of my nails breaking and me having to cut it down - that was my nail's fault, not the polish). That means that this single manicure lasted for over a week. And it's not like I was easy on my hands. I was moving in, climbing around the theater, and moving equipment. And that polish did not budge. I don't know if it was the base coat or the polish or what, but I was amazed. When I paint my own nails, I'm lucky if I get two days wear without chipping. So not only is this polish beautiful and my favorite color, but it's formula is amazing, and I'm super excited to try the others I bought from Zoya.

So those are the products I'm loving right now! I don't incorporate a whole bunch of new products into my routines all that often, but if I find new things I love that I'm not planning to review, there will be more of these in the future!